SPRINGFIELD – A fire that damaged the outside of a multi-family house on 105 Central St. is under investigation and considered suspicious.

The fire, reported at 6:05 p.m., started on the side of the porch and spread up the exterior to ignite some roof shingles. Firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze, limiting the damage to the exterior, Dennis G. Leger, Springfield Fire Department spokesman.

The house had two or three apartments and residents were home but were uninjured. There was about $2,000 in damage and residents are allowed to return to their homes, he said.